My Bio

My Bio

Mark's career in music began with the guitar in 1982. Starting later in life, there was a long road ahead. He taught himself theory and technique and continued to wait for opportunity to come. in 1999, after a 13 year stint as a goldsmith Mark decided to pursue a degree in Music Education.

Upon graduating from Seton Hill University in 2003, Mark accepted a position in Sterling, Virginia with Loudoun County Public Schools. He was appointed director of the guitar department at River Bend Middle School in Sterling, Virginia and within two years built the program to over two hundred and twenty five seventh and eighth grade guitar students. During that time, Mark also taught after-school strings directing students in violin, viola, and cello education and performance.

In 2005, Mark was recognized by then Virginia Governor, Mark Warner, for teaching excellence. In his seven years at River Bend Middle School Mark was awarded Teacher of the Year twice and was runner up another two times. In 2010, Mark moved up to the high school level directing the guitar program at Broad Run High School in Ashburn, Virginia. Mark has more than doubled enrollment at Broad Run High School in Ashburn and is employed full-time there. In his tenth year of teaching, Mark has found a home at Broad Run and describes it as his dream position.

Mark also owns and operates his own performance school, StudioRock of Northern Virginia located in Sterling, Virginia.Teaching all styles and approaches to music education and performance, StudioRock is an outgrowth of Mark's love of learning, teaching, and performing.

Mark's plans for the future remain consistent with his philosophy of teaching: to use creativity, spontaneity, new ideas, and tried and true teaching methodology to prepare his students for a lifetime of musical enjoyment. He uses the unlimited daily opportunities available to increase his own knowledge and to move closer towards teaching excellence.

Specialties: Music director, guitar director/instructor, guitar lecturer and advisor, studio musician.
Music theory/history instructor, band/solo coach, audio recording, video editing.